Once the New Year arrives with it is the 5th round of the Irish cup, the famous cup competition welcomes the premier league teams in what is the cup every team in Northern Ireland wants to win, like the FA Cup in England and Scottish Cup in Scotland, it's the BIG ONE and every team wants to be at Windsor Park come the final in May.
Our last Irish Cup win came in 2003 when Jody Tolan poked the ball over the line as we defeated Glentoran 1-0 and won our first major trophy in 26 years. The season after that we reached the cup final again however this time the Glens defeated us 1-0. Our last appearance in the final was in 2008 when we lost 2-1 against Linfield. Coleraine have won the Irish Cup five times and been Runners up six times. Our first Irish Cup win came in 1965 as we defeated Glenavon 2-1 at Windsor Park in front of 18,000 fans.
Last season we had a great cup run which sadly came to an end against Linfield in the semi final in which they ran out 4-2 winners in the game which was held at The Oval. On our run to the semi final we defeated Dundela away in the 5th round 2-0, followed by 6-0 victory over junior club Nortel in the 6th round. In the quarter final we defeated Newry 3-2 at Coleraine Showground's. Rory Patterson scored in all of those cup games.
The cup is all about the romance and small clubs getting the chance to host Linfield, Glentoran, Coleraine, Crusaders etc. so they can get the chance of an upset and making the history books and also the fact that their club makes a massive amount of money in gate receipts that they are not used to. It's always exciting to see what ties the 5th round draw throws up, this years draw was made in the Culloden Hotel on Wednesday 15th December by Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington.
This season there was some exciting ties in the 5th round and some clubs will be chuffed with the draw. Coleraine will face an away trip to the winners of Limavady or Wakehurst, what an exciting cup tie that would be if Limavady where to play Coleraine in the 5th round, one which our North West neighbours would be well up for and relish the challenge of knocking us out, Coleraine although favourites who would prefer taking on Limavady or Wakehurst instead of a premier league club, but they will face a team out to cause an upset and battle for their lives. So an away win of any kind to see the Stripes in the hat for the 6th round will be welcomed.
Other exciting ties in the cup will be Glentorans trip to Ballymena in one of the three all premier league ties. Institute from the championship have drawn holders Linfield, Warrenpoint Town from Championship 2 are at home to Cliftonville in what is a fantastic draw for them and gives them a chance against the premier league big boys, the last chance of a giant killer in the 5th round is the game between Annagh United of Championship two and Marty Quinn's Glenavon.
So remember when filling in your diary for next year to keep Saturday 15th January free and get along to an Irish Cup game, who knows you may see a giant killing or a shock.
Let's hope the Bannsiders like last season can go on another great cup run.
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